Opthea Limited (OPT) F-1Registration statement (foreign)

Deed of Indemnity,
Access and Insurance

Opthea Limited (Company)

                            (Director)

indemnify the Director to the extent permitted by law and the Constitution against certain liabilities and legal costs incurred by the Director as an officer of any Group Company;

maintain, and pay the premium for, a D&O Policy in respect of the Director; and

provide the Director with access to particular papers and documents requested by the Director for a Permitted Purpose,

Defined terms & interpretation

Defined terms

a Royal Commission, Board of Inquiry, Parliamentary Committee or similar body;

the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, the Australian Securities Exchange and any other regulatory authority or investigative body, whether in Australia or elsewhere;

a department of any Australian government or of any other jurisdiction;

a public authority;

an instrumentality agent or appointee of the Crown in right of the Commonwealth, in right of a State or in right of a Territory or the equivalent of any of them in any other jurisdiction; and

any other body exercising statutory or prerogative power.

the board of directors of the Group Company; or

any committee of the board of directors of the Group Company.

originals or copies of all documents (including, without limitation, board papers, committee papers, correspondence, legal advice, memoranda, submissions, reports and minutes of meetings) provided to, or tabled at any meeting of, the Board of a Group Company during the Director’s term of office as an officer of that Group Company;

copies of resolutions and minutes of meetings of the Board of a Group Company held during the Director’s term of office as an officer of that Group Company; and

copies of resolutions and minutes of meeting of members of a Group Company held during the Director’s term of office as an officer of that Group Company.

any writ, summons, cross-claim, counterclaim, application or other originating legal or arbitral process to which the Director is or might be a party;

any hearing, complaint, inquiry, investigation, proceeding or application however commenced or originating which does or might involve the Director, including any investigation or inquiry by any Authority or External Administrator; or

any written or oral demand or threat that might result in any such process, hearing, complaint, inquiry, investigation, proceeding or application referred to in (a) or (b) above,

insuring the Director against liabilities incurred by the Director as an officer of a Group Company; and

allowing the Company to obtain reimbursement for certain claims paid by it to the Director under this Deed.

the Company; or

any Subsidiary of the Company.

beginning on the date of this Deed; and

ending on the seventh anniversary of the date on which Director ceases to be an officer of any Group Company.

Interpretation

a title or expression defined in the Corporations Act is to that title or expression as defined and without limitation, ‘officer’ has the meaning given to it in section 9 of the Corporations Act;

one gender includes each other gender;

the singular includes the plural and the plural includes the singular;

a person includes a natural person, partnership, body corporate, association, governmental or local authority or agency or other entity;

a party are to a party to this Deed, and includes the party’s executors, administrators, successors and permitted assigns and substitutes; and

a statute, regulation or provision of a statute or regulation (Statutory Provision) include:

that Statutory Provision as amended or re-enacted from time to time; and

a statute, regulation or provision enacted in replacement of that Statutory Provision.

Headings

Indemnity

Company indemnity

all liability in respect of a Claim in the Relevant Period or any Claim later arising out of a Notified Event; and

all Expenses relating to such a Claim or to any Notified Event, including costs and expenses reasonably and necessarily incurred to mitigate any liability for such a Claim or any Claim which may arise from such a Notified Event.

Indemnity extends to certain proceedings

the defence of a criminal proceeding (whether or not the Director is convicted), but not to any criminal penalty imposed; and

the defence of a civil proceeding (whether or not any pecuniary or civil penalty or disqualification order is made or any relief or remedy is granted), but not to any pecuniary penalty imposed.

Conduct not in good faith

is found by a court or other judicial body; or

is agreed by the Director,

Claim by the Company or related body corporate

When Expenses are to be paid or advanced

clause 2.3 may apply—and will continue to be advanced until any conduct of the Director referred to in clause 2.3 is established in accordance with that clause; or

the Company may not be permitted by law or the Constitution to indemnify the Director for those Expenses by reason of an adverse outcome of a proceeding (including where the Director is convicted of a criminal offence) but the Company is permitted by law or the Constitution to advance payment of those Expenses – and will continue to be advanced until the final outcome of the proceeding, including any appeal, is determined.

Nature and scope of indemnity

has effect in respect of any act, omission or conduct occurring or arising prior to, on or after the date of this Deed and in respect of liabilities incurred prior to, on or after the date of this Deed;

is irrevocable except on 20 Business Days notice in writing to the Director, and then only in respect of conduct of the Director after expiry of the 20 Business Days;

continues irrespective of one or more previous applications of clause 2.1;

continues in full force and effect without limitation in relation to any Claim, even if the Director has ceased to be a director, officer or employee of the relevant Group Company before such Claim is made against the Director and/or before a claim is made under this Deed; and

is separate and independent from any indemnity in favour of any other director, officer or employee of any Group Company.

Obligations in relation to events and Claims

Director’s obligations

give notice in writing to the Company promptly upon becoming aware of any Claim or any event or circumstance that may give rise to a Claim;

take such action as the Company reasonably requests to avoid, dispute, resist, appeal against, compromise or defend any Claim or any adjudication of a Claim;

not make any admission of liability in respect of, or settle, any Claim without the prior written consent of the Company;

where the Company assumes the conduct, negotiation or defence of any Claim, render all reasonable assistance and cooperation to the Company in the conduct, negotiation or defence of the Claim including, without limitation, providing the Company with any documents, authorities and directions that the Company may reasonably require for the prosecution or advancement of any counterclaim or cross claim;

upon request by the Company, do everything necessary or desirable which the Company reasonably requests to enable the Company (so far as it is possible) to be subrogated to and enjoy the benefits of the Director’s right in relation to any counterclaims or cross-claims or any claims against any person and render such assistance as may be reasonably requested by the Company for that purpose;

if the Company has not assumed conduct of a Claim, keep the Company fully informed in relation to the status and conduct of that Claim; and

notify any Claim to an insurer or any other person who may be liable to indemnify the Director in respect of that Claim, promptly take all reasonable steps to enforce all the Director’s rights against the insurer or other person and comply with all obligations under the terms of the insurance or other indemnity.

Company’s obligations

Costs

Conduct of events and Claims

Request or election

Where the Director is or may be entitled to be indemnified by the Company under this Deed in respect of a Claim (including a Claim which may arise from a Notified Event), the Director may request the Company, or the Company may elect, to do one or more of the following:

assume the conduct, negotiation or defence of the Claim or Notified Event;

institute a cross-claim or a counterclaim; and

subject to clause 4.2, retain lawyers in relation to the Claim or Notified Event to act on behalf of both the Director and a Group Company (and/or another officer or other officers of a Group Company) to the extent that the Company reasonably considers their interests to be in common.

If the Director makes a request under paragraph (a), the Company must, within 20 Business Days of the request, notify the Director in writing whether the Company accepts the Director’s request. The Company is under no obligation to accept any such request. If the Company refuses the Director’s request, the Company may, at its discretion, nevertheless later make an election to do one or more of the things set out in paragraph (a).

If the Company accepts the Director’s request under paragraph (b) or the Company makes the election under paragraph (a), the conduct of the Claim or Notified Event will be under the management and control of the Company, unless and until the Company elects to pass conduct of the Claim or Notified Event back to the Director.

Disputes

If the Director disputes the Company’s decision to retain lawyers in relation to a Claim or Notified Event under clause 4.1(a)(iii), because the Director does not consider their interests to be in common with others for whom the lawyers are retained, the Director must notify the Company of that dispute in writing.

During the period of 5 Business Days after notice is given under paragraph (a), the Director and the Company must use reasonable efforts to resolve the dispute.

If the dispute is not resolved in accordance with paragraph (b), the Company must refer the matter to an Independent Expert (in accordance with clause 10) who must decide whether, in relation to the Claim or Notified Event, the interests of the Director and others for whom the lawyers are retained are sufficiently in common for common legal representation to be appropriate in all the circumstances. If the Independent Expert decides that their interests are not sufficiently in common, the Director may engage separate legal or other representation in relation to the Claim or Notified Event and reasonable Expenses incurred by the Director in relation to such legal or other representation shall be borne by the Company under clause 2.1.

Own representation

Reasonableness of Expenses

The Director may instruct a ‘top tier’ law firm and/or senior counsel and the Company agrees that the normal charges by any such firm or counsel are reasonable for the Director to incur. Where legal costs are advanced or paid pursuant to a D&O Policy or other insurance and there is a shortfall between the costs incurred by the Director and the amount that the relevant insurer advances or pays, the Company will meet that shortfall amount.

In the event that the Company considers that any amount of Expenses borne by the Company under clause 4.2(c) or 4.3 is unreasonable (other than by reason of the rates charged per clause (a)), the Company may refer the matter for determination by an Independent Expert, in accordance with clause 10. If the Independent Expert finds that any such amount was unreasonable (other than by reason of the rates charged per clause (a)), the Company is only liable for the amount which the Independent Expert finds to be reasonable and the Director will refund the difference between that amount and the amount paid by the Company.

Consultation

consult with the Director about material decisions regarding the Claim;

take into account the Director’s interests (including the Director’s reputation) in making material decisions about the Claim, including in relation to settlement or compromise of the Claim; and

keep the Director reasonably informed of developments regarding the Claim.

Settlement of a Claim

If the Company proposes that a Claim be settled or compromised, the Company must:

provide to the Director details of the proposed offer of settlement or compromise; and

allow the Director a reasonable period (to be specified in the notice) in which the Director may object to the offer.

If the Director does not object to the offer within the period allowed under paragraph (a)(ii), the offer of settlement or compromise may be made or accepted, as the case may be.

If, within the period allowed under paragraph (a)(ii), the Director gives notice that the Director objects to the offer, the Company may (at its sole discretion, acting reasonably):

if the Claim is under the management and control of the Company:

relinquish to the Director the control of the conduct of the Claim (to the extent that it relates to the Director); or

continue the conduct of the Claim without making or accepting the offer, or

permit the Director to continue the conduct of the Claim without making or accepting the offer, and

Role of the insurer under the D&O Policy

Failure to comply

Other indemnity or insurance

Precedence

Director must claim

Reimbursement of the Company

which the Director receives under an insurance policy or other indemnity available to the Director in respect of a payment which has already been made by the Company;

advanced under clause 6.1 or taken to have been advanced under clause 6.2 if and when and to the extent that the amount is received by the Director from the relevant insurer or other person; and

of Expenses that were advanced to the Director under clause 2.5 and for which the Company is not:

liable to indemnify the Director by reason of conduct referred to in clause 2.3 being established in accordance with that clause; or

permitted by law or the Constitution to indemnify the Director by reason of an adverse determination of a proceeding (including where the Director is convicted of a criminal offence),

Insurance

Obligation to insure

Terms and conditions of D&O Policy

cover (but only to the extent required by paragraph (b)) liabilities incurred by the Director (or the Company under the indemnities granted to the Director under clause 2.1) in respect of, or arising out of any Claim;

be for an amount and on terms and conditions (including premium, insuring clauses, exclusions, excess amounts and extended reporting provisions) as are appropriate for a reasonably prudent company in the Company’s circumstances acting reasonably and fairly; and

be on terms and conditions that, taken as a whole, are not materially less favourable to the D&O Policy taken out at the same time by the Company in respect of any other director or officer of the Company.

Notice to Director

the D&O Policy required to be maintained under clause 7.1 has been cancelled or not renewed; or

there is a material diminution in the terms of the D&O Policy maintained under clause 7.1 for the Director.

Company to take reasonable steps

Parties’ obligations

not do or permit to be done anything which prejudices or renders any part of the D&O Policy void, voidable or unenforceable, and immediately rectify anything reasonably within the control of the Company or the Director (as the case may be) which might prejudice or render any part of the D&O Policy void, voidable or unenforceable; and

immediately notify the other in writing on becoming aware of anything done or omitted to be done which could prejudice the D&O Policy.

Access to Board Documents

Request for access to Board Documents

be in writing addressed and given to the Company;

include particulars of the Board Documents to which access is sought by the Director (Requested Documents); and

state the purpose for which access to the Requested Documents is sought, which must be for one of the following purposes:

to discharge the Director’s duties as an officer of a Group Company; or

the investigation or defence of any Claim or any other investigation or proceeding that is anticipated, threatened or commenced that may involve or result in a Claim against the Director; or

any other purpose in respect of which the Company gives its written consent,

Inspection of Board Documents

the Company considers that access to the Requested Document is not for a Permitted Purpose, in which case:

the Company must notify the Director that it will not permit the Director to have access to the Requested Document on the basis that it is not for a Permitted Purpose;

if the Director disputes the Company’s decision to refuse access to the Requested Document, the Director must notify the Company of that dispute in writing;

during the period of 5 Business Days after notice is given under paragraph (ii), the Director and the Company must use reasonable efforts to resolve the dispute; and

if the dispute is not resolved in accordance with paragraph (iii), the Company must refer the matter to an Independent Expert (in accordance with clause 10) who must decide whether access to the Requested Document is for a Permitted Purpose and, if the Independent Expert so decides, the Company must permit the Director to inspect the Requested Document during Business Hours; or

the Requested Document is or refers to a Privileged Document, in which case clauses 8.4 to 8.5 will apply.

Return of Board Documents

subject to paragraph (b), must deliver any Board Documents that the Director holds to the company secretary of the relevant Group Company at the conclusion or as soon as possible following the conclusion of each board meeting; and

in the case of any Board Documents copied and provided to the Director for a Permitted Purpose, must return those Board Documents to the company secretary of the relevant Group Company as soon as possible after they are no longer required for the Permitted Purpose.

Privileged Documents

if the Company believes it reasonably practicable, provide access in such a way that privilege is not lost or waived; or

subject to paragraph (c), waive, and procure that each other Group Company which is entitled to claim privilege in respect of that Privileged Document waives, such privilege; or

if access to that Board Document would, in the reasonable opinion of the Company, jeopardise the ability of a Group Company to claim legal privilege in respect of a Privileged Document resulting in material prejudice to the Group Company:

impose such conditions on the Director’s access to that Board Document as it determines, in good faith, are appropriate to ensure that the ability of a Group Company to claim privilege in respect of that Board Document is not jeopardised by such access; or

refuse to permit the Director to have access to that Board Document if the Company determines in good faith and acting reasonably that it is not possible to ensure, by the imposition of conditions, that the Group Company’s claim to privilege in respect of that Board Document would not be jeopardised by such access.

Disputes in relation to Privileged Documents

If the Director disputes the Company’s decision to refuse access to a Board Document, or to impose conditions on access to a Board Document in accordance with clause 8.4, the Director must notify the Company of that dispute in writing.

During the period of 5 Business Days after notice is given under paragraph (a), the Director and the Company must use reasonable efforts to resolve the dispute.

If the dispute is not resolved in accordance with paragraph (b), the Company must refer the matter to an Independent Expert (in accordance with clause 10) who must weigh up the interests of the Director in having access to the document against the risks to the Company of waiving privilege to determine whether and, if so, on what terms, access should be granted to the Director.

The Director must not waive any privilege of a Group Company nor do or omit to do anything that will cause that privilege to be waived or lost, without the prior written consent of the Company.

Where the Director obtains access to Documents subject to conditions imposed by the Company under clause 8.4, the Director must comply with those conditions.

Access permitted under Corporations Act

Confidentiality

Obligations of confidentiality

keep all Information confidential (except to the extent that disclosure is permitted under clause 9.2);

not disclose Information to any person unless and to the extent permitted to do so under clause 9.2; and

not use Information for any purpose other than a Permitted Purpose.

Exceptions

the Information is or comes into the public domain (other than as a result of a contravention by the Director of this Deed or any other obligation of confidence);

disclosure of the Information is required by law;

disclosure of the Information is either:

reasonably necessary for a Permitted Purpose; or

made in confidence to the legal, financial or taxation advisers of the Director,

no Group Company has a right to claim legal privilege in respect of some or all of that Information or the proposed disclosure of the Information could not reasonably be expected to jeopardise a Group Company’s ability to claim such privilege; or

each Group Company that has the right to claim privilege in respect of all or any of that Information has waived, in writing, its right to claim legal privilege in respect of all or any of that; or

disclosure of the Information is reasonably necessary for the purposes of the discharge of the duties of the Director as an officer of a Group Company; or

the Company has given its prior written consent to the disclosure of the Information.

Limitation

disclose only the minimum Information reasonably necessary in the circumstances;

disclose the Information only to persons who have a need to know and only to the extent that they have a need to know; and

comply with any conditions imposed by the Company under clause 8.4(c)(i).

Expert determination

Referral to expert

Independent Expert

Determination by Expert

make a determination based on the information made available by the parties;

make a determination having regard to the obligations of the parties under this Deed; and

notify the parties in writing of his or her determination within 10 Business Days of his or her appointment.

Independent Expert not arbitrator

Cost of Independent Expert

General provisions

Service of notices

in writing, in English and signed by a person duly authorised by the sender; and

hand delivered or sent by prepaid post or facsimile to the recipient’s address for Notices specified in the Details, as varied by any Notice given by the recipient to the sender.

Notices sent by email

authorised by the sender in accordance with a procedure agreed between the parties; and

sent to the email address specified in the Details or the email address last notified by the intended recipient to the sender.

Notices effective on receipt

if hand delivered, on delivery;

if sent by prepaid post, on the second Business Day after the date of posting (or on the seventh Business Day after the date of posting if posted to or from a place outside Australia);

if sent by facsimile, when the sender’s facsimile system generates a message confirming successful transmission of the entire Notice unless, within eight Business Hours after the transmission, the recipient informs the sender that it has not received the entire Notice; or

in the case of delivery by email, the first to occur of:

receipt by the sender of an email acknowledgment from the intended recipient’s information system showing that the Notice has been delivered to the email address of that recipient;

the time that the Notice enters an information system which is under the control of the intended recipient; and

the time that the Notice is first opened or read by an employee or officer of the intended recipient,

Severability

Governing law and jurisdiction

The law of Victoria governs this Deed.

The parties submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Victoria and the Commonwealth of Australia and agree that any law suit may be heard in those courts.

Amendment

Waiver and exercise of rights

A waiver by a party of a provision of or a right under this Deed is binding on the party granting the waiver only if it is in writing signed by the party or an authorised officer of the party granting the waiver.

A waiver is effective only in a specific instance and for the specific purpose for which it is given.

A single or partial exercise of a right by a party does not preclude another exercise of that right or the exercise of another right.

Failure by a party to exercise or delay in exercising a right does not prevent its exercise or operate as a wavier.

Counterparts

Assignment

Further action

GST

Costs and stamp duty

Survival

Entire agreement

Signed sealed and delivered

in the presence of